"Dear Santa...."

Every year since Landon was just a little boy, we have visited Santa and taken the traditional pictures.

This is a tradition I really enjoy for two reasons.  One is that it is a fun way to track the growth of the kids, see the additions as babies, and notice the changes in expressions and clothing.  The other is that it is an event that has grown into not only a trip to the Mall but also includes a dinner with all of us, kind of an "After Thanksgiving" get together and an early "Happy Birthday" for Matt.  Plus for me one of the most special times of the Christmas season is when it is just starting, when anticipation is high, when decorations appear, and the entire month of December is ahead of us in which to make many memories.

This year Hilary had already selected red and black plaid shirts for Landon and Owen and a cute outfit in a similar plaid with black leggings for Tessa.  On a recent shopping trip I found an identical shirt for Cooper and a mini-version of the same outfit for Lynnlee.  First time for the matching outfits for the cousins.  I know that this may not become a part of our tradition, but for now it was cute for all of them to match.

Monday after Thanksgiving before 5 is the perfect time to visit Santa at the Tippecanoe Mall.  There was NO line at all.  There was time to situate the kids and take multiple pictures in different combinations.  The only problem we had was...Owen.



He was having none of Santa.  Owen has become very particular about whom he spends his time with who holds him, and how far he is from Mommy.  This jolly guy in a red suit was NOT anyone he cared to associate with, even if he did have candy canes and a jolly laugh.

 

Eventually we all had the pictures we desired.  Years down the road, probably when Owen graduates, we can laugh about the picture of Owen struggling to remove himself from Santa's lap.  Or maybe it would be cute to try one of those 're-creations' of a picture when the children become adults?  Whatever....it will be one of the years that we can easily recall. Remember the year that Owen was screaming and not cooperating?

Even though I remember one of my sons-in-law grumbling a bit a few years ago when we mentioned the Picture with Santa becoming an annual tradition with the kids (his response was 'I don't think so') and even though the process is a little bit chaotic, it is one that I treasure each year. Last night as I removed the past pictures from the frame, it was so much fun to see how our little family has grown from just Landon and Cooper in the first one from 2013 through adding Tessa, then Owen, and finally Lynnlee to our group of grandchildren.



Gary and I are so fortunate that we live close enough to the girls to meet them at the Mall and witness the picture taking process, not just receive a picture in the mail or on our phones after the fact.  We are very blessed that the girls and their husbands work together to make this event a good one.  Because family is so important to both of us, these moments have very special meaning.

And so  the 2017 Christmas season officially begins!